It’s a bye week, and it feels a little too early to start looking ahead to our battle against #4 Ole Miss. So instead, let’s look back at some of the best pass-catchers to come through the program over the last 25 years.
The Mike Leach era gave us some eye-popping (and maybe skewed) numbers thanks to the sheer volume of passes, so this list can’t be purely statistical. And let’s be real—everyone reading this will probably think a few of my picks are “stupid.” That’s the fun of it!
#10. Dom Williams (2012–2015)
192 Rec (#6 All Time), 2,889 Yards (#3 All Time), 30 TDs (#3 All Time)
Four straight years over 500 yards and 15 yards per catch for his career—Dom Williams was a great Coug. He lands a little lower than his numbers suggest because he never felt quite as dominant as others on this list, but the production speaks for itself.
#9. Vince Mayle (2013–2014)
148 Rec (T-#17 All Time), 2,022 Yards (T-#14 All Time), 16 TDs (T-#20 All Time)
After a solid first year in Pullman, Mayle exploded in 2014 with 106 catches for 1,483 yards (#5 in the nation!) and 9 touchdowns. That 2014 team only won three games, but in many ways, it was the turning point for the Leach era with Luke Falk taking over.
#8. Michael Bumpus (2004–2007)
195 Rec (#5 All Time), 2,022 Yards (T-#14 All Time), 8 TDs (T-#39 All Time)
Bumpus was the definition of consistency—sure hands and Brink’s safety blanket underneath, opening up Brandon Gibson and Jason Hill deep. It’s been awesome seeing him back in the fold, calling games for the CW.
#7. Kyle Williams (2023–2024)
131 Rec (#26 All Time), 2,041 Yards (#11 All Time), 20 TDs (#7 All Time)
Absolute legend, one of my favorite Cougs of all time. His record setting performance at the Holiday Bowl with our ragtag group of guys playing will not soon be forgotten. If he played another season it is hard to believe he wouldn’t be towards the top of this list.
#6. River Cracraft (2013–2016)
218 Rec (#2 All Time), 2,701 Yards (#6 All Time), 20 TDs (T-#6 All Time)
Dare I say Bumpus 2.0? A 4 year starter that never had less than 614 yards in a year and never had more than 771, Cracraft was the model of consistency. It is too hard to compare anyone from the Mike Leach era to other schemes but talk about sure hands and being the best safety blanket a quarterback could have, that was River Cracraft.
#5. Dezmon Patmon (2016–2019)
156 Rec (T-#14 All Time), 1,976 Yards (#18 All Time), 13 TDs (T-#28 All Time)
While Dez’s stats don’t stand out as much as others on this list there’s no denying his impact on some of the best Cougar teams in recent memory. He didn’t always have the ability to separate from defenders, but his knack for making contested catches produced some incredible highlights. Anyone who was in the building for the Alamo Bowl against Iowa State will never forget his game sealing catch.
#4. Jason Hill (2003–2006)
148 Rec (T-#17 All Time), 2,704 Yards (#5 All Time), 32 TDs (#2 All Time)
Despite playing on some forgettable teams that followed the early-2000s Jason Gesser era, Jason Hill ushered in the Alex Brink years with two explosive seasons, finishing in the top five of receiving yards in the Pac-10 in both 2004 and 2005. More importantly, he helped the Cougs beat the Huskies in both of those years.
#3. Marquess Wilson (2010–2012)
189 Rec (#7 All Time), 3,207 Yards (#2 All Time), 23 TDs (#4 All Time)
Quite possibly the most naturally talented receiver I remember at his peak. As a true sophomore on Paul Wulff’s final team, Wilson was a lone bright spot, putting up nearly 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns. While his relationship with Mike Leach never developed and things quickly soured in Pullman, I’ll always appreciate Wilson for making Cougar football watchable through the last two Wulff seasons.
#2. Brandon Gibson (2005–2008)
182 Rec (#8 All Time), 2,756 Yards (#4 All Time), 17 TDs (T-#16 All Time)
Overlapping with Jason Hill during his first two years, Gibson quickly rose to become one of the premier receivers on the West Coast. His junior year, he led the Pac-10 in receiving yards and finished third in touchdowns. Unfortunately, his senior year was spent on one of the worst WSU teams of all time, with an offense that ranked 119th out of 120 nationally. But no number of Paul Wulff seasons could ever erase the memory of Gibson blowing past his defender to catch the game-winner in the 2007 Apple Cup.
#1. Gabe Marks (2012–2016)
316 Rec (#1 All Time – 98 more than anyone), 3,453 Yards (#1 All Time), 37 TDs (#1 All Time)
While stats don’t always tell the full story, sometimes they do. Being #1 on the Pac-12 receptions leaderboard matters. Being #2 on the Pac-12 touchdowns leaderboard matters. What’s interesting is that when I think of Gabe Marks, I don’t think of stats at all—I think of his toughness, leadership, and that clutch touchdown to upset UCLA in 2015 at the Rose Bowl. Gabe Marks embodied everything it means to be a Coug, and I’m glad I had the chance to watch him play.